The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-23

had been scanty throughout the SUI
the quartet Of sportsmen returned q
staggering under their burden Of TIL
reese and pigeons sufficient to pro
the entire settlement for whole
There was rare labor done by the
Puritan danes, plucking and dressip
game, pounding corn and baking "
ting ont and polishing the tin and
table services brought from Englai
Holland, and scrubbing the "
trenchers that served the poorer pill
IN lieu Of tin or pewter.
The roar of one of the great guns
hill top announced the commencem
Thanksgiving. II was Thursday, o.
a little less than one year after In
rival in Cape Cod bay. I'm the din
dwellings and over fires lii in the on
began the work Of roasting and boil
When all had assembled the sci
stepped forward and the men,
abreast, with firearms shoul
marched orderly and silently towar
meeting house. Behind came Go,
Bradford In his long robe Of office,
ing gravely, as befltted IA governor
his right hand walked the venerable
er Brewster in his preachers cloak,
ing the Bible reverently in his hands
the governors left was the military
of the colony, Miles Standish, his
armor laid aside for a short clO
trusty sword ut his side, and sma
in his hand as a mark of Office. j
he watched the firm tread, sturdy
and serviceable weapons of the littl
before him. and was half regretfr
among the subjects for the days
giving was the blessing OF peace ,
the tribes about them. IL was also
30 many good muskets should be
only in shooting wild fowl, so doubtlN
he thought; for the sturdy little captain
was, as he had said, n man of war, half of
whose thirty-seven years had been spent
in knocking about the world as soldier
of fortune.
The sermon of Elder Brewster was ap-
propriate to the occasion. Never was he
known to preach better discourse or a
shorter one, though ii would be thought
long enough now, particularly If the
steam of roasting Meleagris gallopavo
tickled the nostrils of preacher and con-
gregation, as it did them.
1t was a Thanksgiving dinner, and no
mistake about it. To be sure the tables
were of the rudest, and there was not
much display, nor were there the many
little delicacies that con often be found
now on Thanksgiving tables. But the
turkey was there in all his glory Of
Drowned skin, rich gravies and palatable
stuffiing, and so were n number Of other
birds, great and small, roasted and boiled
and baked over the embers. There was
corn bread and hominy and buildings,
and several little nicknacks such as skillful
housewives could make up of the mate
rails at hand. Nor were the tables alto
gether wanting in display. Some families
had brought Il few household relics from
their English homes, and these were set
out to do honor TO the day of rejoicing.
The dinner over, the pilgrims turned to
the homes they had left. AS the day
closed and darkness came creeping in
from the pine woods around Plymouth,
the settlers trod once more, in fancy, the
green lanes of England or the busy streets
of Leyden. They sang the psalms and
songs that had been sung around their
English firesides, and mingled memories
of the past with thankfulness for the pres
ent and hope for the future.
Hark, An Indian shout, followed by
a challenge from one of the guard. A
1harp rattle of drum, and every man
grasped his firelock and rushed out in
alarm Nearly hundred savagos were
pouring into the village with shouts and
cries. But there was no occasion for
alarm II vas Massasoit and his braves
coming IN to thank the white men for
their assistance and to share their festivi-
ties. They brought with them five deer
and good supply of other game. as their
to the feast.
So the thanksgiving feasting was con-
tinued another day. BY daybreak the fires
we're again set going and the work Of
broiling and boiling was re-
,umed. This time venison was added TO
the turkey.
While the feast was preparing the In
lians performed their dances, startling
he white men and frightening the young
olks and women with their wild yells and
ierce gestures When they rested Capt.
standish ordered out his soldiers in full
lrmor and put them through their mill
airy exercises, winding up with the dis
harge of a volley from their muskets,
md a salute from the great cannon on the
ill top and the little cannon before the
governors door. The crash of the mus
retry and the roar of the ordnance terri
led the savages, and they begged tho
great captain" that he would not thun-
Ter again, lest he should kill them all
On the third day the feasting was re-
umed the Indian hunters going out
'efore daybreak and returning early with
anne for the days feast. A council fire
vas built, and around it speeches were
made and new pledges of friendship ex-
hanged. Then, with great ceremony,
iassasoit took leave of the governor, his
riend, the great captain, and the other
hief men of the town. Standish, with
he troop of musketeers, esrorted the In
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